INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana University Research and Technology Corp., which protects, markets and licenses intellectual property developed at Indiana University so it can be commercialized by industry, has added Dan McNerny to its staff of technology managers.

The hiring will strengthen IURTC's ability to evaluate invention disclosures from IU faculty and staff, find appropriate protection, and market them to corporate partners, which could lead to increased patent applications, licensing deals and generated revenue.

Marie Kerbeshian, vice president of technology commercialization, said McNerny reinforces IURTC's ability to work with IU researchers.

"Dan will identify innovations resulting from work conducted by IU researchers, and he will evaluate options on protecting the intellectual property," she said. "He will conduct research to find corporate partners interested in developing innovations into products for the marketplace, negotiate deal terms for licenses, and coordinate the ongoing relationship between the IU researcher and the company."

McNerny said he joined IURTC's staff for several reasons.

"IURTC has an excellent team in place, led by CEO Tony Armstrong and Marie Kerbeshian. Everyone is highly motivated to connect IU innovations with industry, which could lead to products and services that improve people's lives," he said. "I've always been drawn to translating research on the bench into products being used in the world. It's a strong motivation to envision the impact that work discovered at IU could have around the world."

Prior to joining IURTC, McNerny was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan. He has also been co-director of Photon Affinity LLC, a state-funded optical biosensor startup.

During the February meeting of IU's board of trustees, IURTC President and CEO Tony Armstrong reported on the strength of IURTC's work in the 2016 fiscal year. Highlights included year-over-year increases in U.S. patent applications, U.S. issued patents, licensing agreements and licensing revenue. Among technology-transfer offices at Big Ten institutions in fiscal year 2015, the most recent year of available statistics from the Association of University Technology Managers report, IURTC ranked eighth in generating revenue and issued U.S. patents despite having the third-smallest dedicated staff.

About Indiana University Research and Technology Corp.

IURTC is a not-for-profit corporation tasked with the protecting and commercializing of technology emanating from innovations by IU researchers. Since 1997, IU research has generated more than 2,700 inventions resulting in more than 4,100 global patent applications being filed by IURTC. These discoveries have generated more than $135 million in licensing and royalty income, including more than $112 million in funding for IU departments, labs and inventors.